The economy of Norwegian towns c. 1250-1350. A comparative study of the economic functions of towns in Norway, Denmark and England.

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to explain why differences arose between Norwegian, Danish and English towns with regard to their economic functions. Norwegian towns did not develop a sizeable production of commodities for the rural hinterland, something Danish and English towns did, of which the textile industry in small English towns is a prime example. This production contributed to the growth of towns in Denmark and England, a growth that was quite explosive in the thirteenth century. The thesis investigates the scant evidence there is for urban production in Norway, and compares it with the production of goods in English and Danish towns. The differences are explained by looking at how commercialised Norwegian, English and Danish societies were, and what factors could have caused the differences in the levels of commercialisation that can be observed. The factors that were considered to have had the most impact are geography, topography, climate and population, the relationship between the landowning class and the peasants, and the dominating position of merchants from the Hanse.